Tacca

Family Taccaceae. Native range - Southeast Asia and West Africa.

The genus of plants of the Taccaceae family, closely related to members of the Trilliaceae. In general, the systematic division of the Liliaceae order is rather confused, and enthusiasts can simply imagine the kinship of the mysterious Tacca with the poisonous classic forest plant — Herb Paris (Paris) — or with the trillium (Trillium), increasingly found in modern gardens. Perennial herbs with tuberous or creeping rhizomes and large entire or pinnately dissected leaves in a basal rosette. Flowers in umbelloid inflorescences, green or dark-colored.

T. pinnatifida (leontopetaloides) contains a lot of starch in the rhizomes, which is extracted and, after processing, used as food. This starch is called East Indian or South Sea arrowroot. Cultivated species have creeping rhizomes and large, oval, wrinkled foliage.

Purplish flowers are gathered in clusters (bunches) at the tops of long, thick stems, up to 60 cm long. From the beautiful flowers hang long "sideburns."

In some botanical gardens a related whole-leaved species of Tacca — Tacca chantrieri (T. chantrieri) — can be found. It differs by larger, broader leaves that are folded at the base, borne on long petioles, and numerous (up to 20) flowers — glossy, reddish-brown. Tacca chantrieri grows high in the mountains, at elevations up to 2000 m above sea level.

Care: For successful cultivation Tacca needs a bright location protected from direct sunlight (it feels best on a north-facing windowsill), a temperature not below 18 degrees in winter, abundant watering in summer with soft settled water and spraying at least twice a day. (However, if you do not have time for constant spraying, place the plant on a wide tray with moist expanded clay.) In winter water Tacca only as the surface of the potting mix dries. Fertilize every two weeks in spring, summer and autumn. Common fertilizers available in flower shops can be used, but it is still best to look for those intended for orchids.

Repot into a mix composed of turf soil, leaf mold, peat and sand (0.5:1:1:0.5). Drainage is essential. Tacca is propagated by dividing the rhizome, first cutting back the aboveground part — a short stem with leaves. With a sharp knife divide the rhizome into several parts, dust the cut surfaces with powdered charcoal and, after drying for a day, plant into small pots. New shoots arise from dormant buds on the rhizome. Tacca can also be grown from freshly collected seed. Mature seeds are up to 5 mm long, their color light or dark brown. In nature fruits quickly rot in a moist environment, releasing seeds that are dispersed by ants. In cultivation seeds should be removed from the capsule, rinsed in a weak potassium permanganate solution, dried and sown to a depth of about 1 cm in a light soil mix composed of leaf mold and sand. Seedlings are pricked out as they grow (plants tolerate transplanting well), watered generously and fertilized. With proper care whole-leaved Tacca is rarely affected by pests.

Propagation: Division of the rhizome in spring is possible. Growing Tacca from seed is not for beginners. It requires significant effort and increased attention.

Soak the seeds for 24 hours in warm water (not too hot — warm enough that you can comfortably keep your hand in it). You can use a thermos to maintain a constant water temperature while soaking.

Sow in trays, pots, etc., using quality seed and placing them in a greenhouse or a warm location with an optimal temperature of 25–28 degrees. It is important that the soil temperature be constant and sufficiently high. For sowing use flat trays and transparent plastic cloches. Place pots with the sowings on bottom heating.

Sow quality seeds to a depth of 2 mm, cover from above with polyethylene film or a transparent plastic dome to retain moisture.

Do not use ordinary potting soil for sowing — it is too heavy and prevents proper aeration and water access to the seeds. Heavy soil can kill the seeds. Place a little sphagnum moss on top and mist it daily, maintaining a mini-greenhouse effect for better seed germination. The substrate should also be moistened for better root development, but not overly so, so as not to "drown" them. Germination can last from 1 to 9 months, so be patient. Do not discard your seed trays prematurely thinking they will not germinate!

Seedling care: When the seedlings have grown sufficiently, transplant them into small pots with well-drained soil with 10% coarse sand added. Make sure your sand is well washed, otherwise salts will harm the plant. Throughout the active growing season (from late spring to late summer) the plant should be regularly well watered and the soil must be well-drained. Use a soluble fertilizer. Later the plant will need larger pots. In winter reduce watering and provide a minimum temperature of not less than 12 degrees. Repot in February–March as needed. Shade from direct sun. Like any tropical plant, Tacca requires regular spraying all summer.

Tacca seedlings can easily perish. Use only high-quality pretreated seeds. If you think your seedlings are dying, sift a little good potting mix around the plant, but carefully so as not to damage the stem! Continue to maintain a sufficiently high temperature and do not remove the dome until at least a second tier of leaves appears.

Repotting: New leaves that appear will be rolled and have a spinach-like texture. This is normal. It is good to place the pot with the plant in the bathroom. First run a hot shower to fill the room with steam. Close the door and leave the plant in the bathroom overnight with the light on. This treatment benefits the plant. Tacca is a tropical plant! It likes humidity and high temperature, but can be grown indoors and in cooler climates. In that case it will require additional care, warmth and humidity.

As soon as the plant resumes growth in spring, remove the old soil free of roots and place the plant in a mix of peat and sand. Good drainage is essential! In summer, during active growth, increase watering, and in winter, during dormancy, reduce it. A grown plant whose roots have filled the pot needs feeding with liquid fertilizer. The minimum winter temperature in a greenhouse should be no lower than 12 degrees Celsius, and from spring to autumn (during the plant's active growth) the minimum temperature should be no lower than 15 degrees Celsius.

Seeds: After flowering Tacca forms fruits with seeds. They remain on the plant for quite some time and may dry out and fall off. Remove them and open to extract the seeds. Seeds can be left dry only for a few days.

If the pod falls while it is still soft (not sufficiently dry), lay it on a plate and leave to dry so that afterwards you can collect sufficiently dry seeds. The fresher the seeds, the better they germinate.